I put everything I had into that lap,” Werner told ESPN3. “There was not a lot of experience because in free practice everybody had just a couple laps and this is a new track to everybody. We came out of the box really good we studied the data of the practice.
“It’s fantastic to finally get on the pole. We have a few good qualifyings, but always it was very, very close. Now this is great for the guys who work on the #55 car, and for the team—another pole for BMW.
“It shows how strong the cars are, and it makes a difference here, especially, because overtaking is not easy.”
With nine minutes left in the 15-minute session, the order was Vette-BMW-Vette-BWM, with Jan Magnusson in the #4 Corvette Racing C6-ZR taking insane risks, brushing the walls, and setting the best time. The Dirk Werner set off on his own high-risk-high-reward effort, coming just as close to disaster but also obliterating the lap time set by Mags.
Traffic became an issue at this point as all the frontrunners ended up bunched up on the course. Pat Long in the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche came up on Jan Magnusson as the Danish driver was easing off; this balked Long, who was on a hot lap. Long tapped the Corvette’s bumper and took off around the Vette, hoping to salvage something.
Shortly thereafter Long ran up behind the #62 Risi Ferrari 458 driven by Jaime Melo. Melo, just off a hot lap and wanting to cool his ties, slowed dramatically while still on the racing line, again balking Long’s Porsche. Long slowed, let Melo pass, and deliberately rammed the Ferrari, damaging a tire and the rear bodywork.
For his part, Long was completely unapologetic.
“Well, unfortunately there were a couple of drivers on two occasions that were driving around in first gear trying to get a gap, but they were on the racing line and they were not taking any other people’s racing laps into account,” Long told ESPN3. “When you drive around in first gear sometimes you get run into the back of.”
Dave Sims, Risi Competizione Team Manager, said he didn’t think his driver Jaime Melo was deliberately blocking the racing line.
“What I saw on TV was an unnecessary hit, so we are going to go up there and sort it out,” Sim said. “I know [Long] was on a flyer we were on a cooling-down lap, but until I see them both—we will see what happens.”
When asked if he got any radio messages from Mel o after the incident Sims replied, “Normal one—‘He hit me on purpose.’ That’s what he said, so—we will see.”
Patrick Long, who had qualified third, and Jaime Melo, who had qualified sixth, were both penalized for “unjustifiable risk” and relegated to the back of the 30-car grid.
Joey Hand qualified the #56 BMW fourth.
Bleekemolen Scores GTC Pole After Retrieving Stray Wheel
Ende got off to a bad start at Baltimore, losing the rear end in Turn Ten and slamming the wall hard during Friday practice. The car was so badly damaged it had to be sent back to the garage for repairs; the team hopes it will be back in time to start the race.
Despite his closest opponent being absent Jeroen Bleekemolen still wanted the pole. Getting it turned out to include an out-of-car experience.
Bleekemolen slowed on his first qualifying lap, thinking he had a puncture. As he amneuvere4d his was through a maze of tire barriers behind a runoff area 9a shortcut to the pits) his left front wheel came completely off and rolled away.
Rather than quit, Bleekemolen jumped out of the car, chased down the rolling wheel and stuffed it into the car next to him. He limped back to the pits on three wheels, the crew hammered out some damaged bodywork, and Bleekemolen went back out and captured the pole.
“When I left pit lane for qualifying I lost a wheel—the tire just came off,” Bleekemolen told ESPN3. “I tried to make it back and then just before pit entry I lost the wheel completely.
“I know from Le Mans, from the 24 Hour, you can get out and pick it up, so I asked the team and they said, ‘Yeah, go for it.’ so I picked it up and brought it back home.
“I am really happy—already on the first lap out I got the pole back. It went so well in all the practices it would have been such a shame if you lose a wheel in practice—I was really happy it worked out
“For sure, strategy is going to play a big role in this race. Overtaking is hard on a street course so starting up at the front is always good.
“Especially around here —it is not so easy to overtake. I think we have a little advantage there, but it is a long race and a lot can happen with strategy.
”The car is good were fast so, it looks all good for tomorrow.”
The American Le Mans Series Baltimore Grand Prix starts at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 3. Tickets can be purchased through the Baltimore Grand Prix website.
The race will air live on ESPN3.com, and will rebroadcast Sunday September 4 at 4 p.m. on ABC (with a special 2 p.m. PDT for West Coast viewers.)
The IndyCar Baltimore Grand Prix starts at 2:45 p.m. Sunday, September 4.
